Protests outside a Batley School

[feelymcfeel]

The problem with offence is it's such a deeply personal thing that is unique to each individual. How can you legislate for that? The fact you're offended offends me. Where do we go now? If we change things because you're offended but not because I'm offended then that also offends me. I'm now twice as offended as you.

If you're offended you should just suck it up and get over it. If you can't manage your emotions to the point that a drawing makes you want to kill people, you've got bigger problems.

 

[Rascal]

I feel people can’t be openly honest in threads like this in case their labelled racists, fear of getting banned ridiculed by other posters etc

If you are racist you deserve to be banned and ridiculed, so the best thing to do is to not be racist.

 

[paulchapo]

Thanks for your reply pal, i appreciate it.

I wasn't really having a rant at you, it was just some random thoughts i had in my head in this morning.

Cheers. I started my reply and started to think, bloody hell this is long winded, but once I'd started I had to finish lol.

 

[metalblue]

It's interesting though ain't it, how do we measure offence....

I generally measure without including the gravel boards

 

[Ancient Citizen]

And exactly why we are now fucked... We should have had the balls when first confronted with this plague to deal with it... Now we've made it impossible to do that

Free speech in the UK is now a preserve of certain elements of our population... I don't fit the stereotype

Indeed. The idea, nay fact, that nobody can lampoon or criticise one religion is utterly abhorrent, and runs directly counter to our values.
But nothing was done, or will be done now, so free expression is now controlled by a small number of fanatics, who are free to hound and banish at will.

 

[Ancient Citizen]

I feel people can’t be openly honest in threads like this in case their labelled racists, fear of getting banned ridiculed by other posters etc

And your feelings are telling you the truth.
For myself, I give no fucks though, being banned just reinforces the various points made, criticism must never involve certain groups.
To be honest I'm surprised it's lasted this long.

 

[meltonblue]

Like most debates, this one is being hijacked a bit by the extreme viewpoints of both sides.

Any religion can be criticised and there’s nothing wrong with anyone in this country showing Hebdo cartoons, there is no legal question to it at all.

Showing them to a class of students that include Muslims without prior warning (if that is what happened) isn’t illegal in any way, it is misguided at best though. If they did have prior warning, then there should be no complaints or protests whatsoever.

Should just be school doesn’t change its curriculum, teacher reinstated, Muslim students allowed to opt out of any future sessions if wanted, move on.

 

[metalblue]

Indeed. The idea, nay fact, that nobody can lampoon or criticise one religion is utterly abhorrent, and runs directly counter to our values.
But nothing was done, or will be done now, so free expression is now controlled by a small number of fanatics, who are free to hound and banish at will.

Whilst I get the sentiment there is a fine line between criticism and offending. And when it comes to criticising faith you probably ought to triple check your facts/approach.

Nonetheless having offended the way the community (or bussed in) has dealt with it has done more harm to wider picture of their faith and only cemented the view to some that it is intolerant. To this end the local Imam, I thought, was very much a voice of reason but seems to have been given little air time.

 

[Indaparkside]

If you are racist you deserve to be banned and ridiculed, so the best thing to do is to not be racist.

You are always controversial you know what I was getting at no need to be a tit

 

[Bluemanc100]

You feel your free speech is imperilled, yet you have just used your free speech to call a religion a plague.

That is an interesting juxtaposition.

I didn’t call the religion a plague... Just those intent on radicalism in the name of Islam